The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a 14-page memorandum to executive departments and agencies yesterday, which lifted the federal hiring freeze in place since President Trump’s executive order dated Jan. 23, 2017.
The memo entitled “Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce” outlines a series of long- and short-term actions agencies need to take to “make government lean, accountable, and more efficient.” These actions include requiring “all agencies to:
- Begin taking immediate actions to achieve near-term workforce reductions and cost savings…;
- Develop a plan to maximize employee performance by June 30, 2017; and
- Submit an Agency Reform Plan to OMB in September 2017…that includes long-term workforce reductions.”
Multiple media outlets cited delayed Social Security checks as one reason for ending the federal hiring freeze. A recent report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities stated that beneficiaries are now waiting an average of four months for the Social Security Administration to complete routine tasks that ensure benefits are paid timely and accurately.
